Panel light



Sept. 8, 1959 M. SQUIRE ETAL PANEL LIGHT Filed oct. 24. 1956 IN V E NTORS MAJOR JQU/RE awn/.5: W/Nm/V TURNER ATTORNEY United States Patent 6PANEL LIGHT Major Squire, Christchurch, and harles Wintou Turner,Bournemouth, England, assignnrs to Thorn Electrical Industries Limited,London, England Application October 24, 1956, Serial No. 618,038

Claims priority, application Great Britain October 25, 1955 2 Claims.(Cl. 240-816) This invention relates to light fittings and has for itsobject to provide an improved fitting in which the light emitted by alamp within the fitting can be readily varied.

According to the present invention there is provided a light fittingcomprising an opaque tube adapted to receive a lamp, an opaque sleeve insliding engagement with the tube, an opaque member adapted to close theend of the sleeve remote from the lamp, and means for telescoping thesleeve relatively to the tube in such a manner as to vary the aperturebetween the sleeve and the opaque member, and hence the emission oflight from the fitting.

The invention will be described by way of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in section of oneembodiment of the invention, and Fig. 2 shows the fitting of theaforesaid drawing mounted in a suitable support and with a lamp inposition therein.

Referring first to Fig. 1, an opaque tube 1 adapted to receive a lamphas a flange thereon clamped toa cap 4 of translucent moulded materialby means of a nut 2 spun over a shoulder on the cap as shown. A rubbersealing ring 8 is provided to prevent, at least in some measure, theentry of liquid vapour into the cap 4. The nut 2 and tube ll may be ofmetal.

An opaque sleeve 3, which may be of metal, is slidable over the tube 1and a coarse thread thereon is adapted to engage a corresponding threadon the tube 1. Rotation of the sleeve 3 relatively to the cap 4, isprevented by two diametrically opposed tabs 6, formed integrally withthe sleeve 3, engaging in slots 7 moulded Within the cap 4.

An opaque member 5, for instance of metal, is moulded into the cap 4 andserves, in the setting shown in the drawing, to close the lower end ofthe sleeve 3. For this purpose the member 5 is provided with a portionof reduced diameter over which the end of the sleeve 3 can slide intothe position shown. In the setting shown no light is emitted from a lampwithin the tube 1.

In order to emit light, the cap 4 is rotated carrying with it the sleeve3 which is telescoped relatively to the tube 1 by the action of theengaged threads. When the lower end of the sleeve is thereby raisedabove the re- Hce d-uced diameter portion of the opaque member 5, lightis emitted through the aperture between the sleeve 3, and the opaquemember 5 and passes out through the cap 4.

The inner surface of the opaque member 5 is preferably made convex asshown and light-reflecting, in order to reflect through the cap 4 asmuch as possible of the light falling thereon.

Referring now to Fig. 2, a lamp 9 is shown mounted in a lamp holder 10which is a push fit within the tube 1. The internal thread on the nut 2is screwed on to the threaded end of a body 11 of moulded material whichis mounted in an aperture in a panel 12 by means of a nut 13.

Contact with the lamp holder 10, and thus with the lamp cap, is made toa conductor 14 extending through the body 11 and through a rubbersealing member 15 to the outside. The centre contact of the lamp is inengagement with a spring contact 16 which also passes to the outside.

We claim:

1. A light fitting comprising an opaque tube adapted to receive a lamp,an opaque sleeve surrounding said tube and in sliding engagement withsaid tube, an opaque member closing the end of the sleeve remote fromthe lamp, a translucent cap held rotatably around said sleeve, saidsleeve being slidable axially within said cap and being prevented fromrotation relative to said cap, whereby rotation of the cap forces thesleeve back in the tube, telescoping the latter to vary thelight-emitting aperture between the sleeve and the opaque member.

2. A light fitting comprising a support member, an opaque tube, meansfixedly securing said tube to said support, lamp supporting means in oneend of said tube, an opaque sleeve surrounding the other end of saidtube, inter-engaging screw threads on said tube and sleeve for effectingaxial displacement of said sleeve relatively to said tube in response torelative rotation of said tube and sleeve, a light-transmitting caprotatably mounted upon said support member, interengaging means betweensaid sleeve and said cap providing a rotation transmitting couplingbetween said sleeve and said cap and permitting axial movement of saidsleeve relatively to said cap between an inner and an outer extremeposition, and an opaque member mounted upon said cap and positioned toclose the end of said sleeve further from said lamp when said sleeve isin said outer extreme position, light of progressively increasing intensity being emitted between the said end of said sleeve and said opaquemember as said sleeve is moved towards the said inner extreme position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,757,395 Schwarze May 6, 1930 2,361,765 Grimes Oct. 31, 1944 2,707,780Heller et al. May 3. 1955

